A Relaxing Spot of Tea

Melanie stared open-mouthed at the mug toppled on the shag as if itwere a hand grenade.

"It'll come out!" Stef cried.

"I can't get it to come out. I can't believe this!" Melanie spit onher thumbs and rubbed the lace furiously between them. The spot justlaid there like a relaxed beach-bather.

"This was your idea in the first place! I told you not to doit. Ronnie, soda water, now!"

"Look, everyone is already sitting down. The music is already playing!I can't go down there with a wet dress! This is not some junior prom!What am I supposed to do?"

"It's going to be okay. We'll get it out and everything will befine. No, no, don't do that. Give me that! Soda water will get it out,I know it will."

"This a sign. This is a sign that I'm not supposed to do this. I'vegot to go, now. Get out of my way!" Melanie shrieked and threw thescissors against the wall.

"Get a hold of yourself! This is not a sign, it's a spot! And it's notthe goddamned stigmata, it's just tea! Get back here! What aboutDylan? What are you DOING?!"

Melanie kicked the mug through the doorway ahead and stormed after it,flailing her train behind her. The mug rolled through the balconyrailing, missed a balding head in the front row, and bounced a fewtimes on the red carpet.

Dylan felt something splash on his cheek. He turned his head insurprise and glimpsed a dark stain spreading on the white collar ofhis tuxedo. It smelled of bergamot.

He squinted at the stain, missing the whirl of white lace disappearingthrough the church front door; but he heard the organ halt and thecrowd gasp. He turned around, walked to the men's room, and started toscrub out the stain.